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Doom Patrol discussion thread

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shastab24 Since: Dec, 2010
#1: Sep 23rd 2012 at 9:56:10 PM

The World's Weirdest Heroes! What do you guys think of the team, its past and whatever the future may hold for them at DC (despite a lack of presence in the New 52)? Who would be your ideal Doom Patrol team?

Personally, I haven't read as much as probably some other fans of the team. Where I began was with Volume 2, which I obtained (not so legally, but replacing all files on my computer with physical copies whenever I can) in order to specifically read the Rachel Pollack issues, but also to read the build-up to it, and that Kupperberg-Morrison-Pollack run is the only run I've read all the way through. However, I have read two issues since (the one dealing with Coagula's death in the succeeding volume and one in the latest series that focused on Negative Man/Rebis). This is where I'm coming from with the team.

One thing I have never understood is the desire to go back to the classic lineup. Reading the runs I did, there was development of the characters there without a need to bring back Rita to the team. She was too normal, when the team needs to be outcasts—people who can't live in normal society. However, there's also the odd idea of going from Rebis back to Negative Man, even though the former is a further evolution of the character and conceptually more interesting (granted, that is my opinion, but still...). The team should move forward, with still acknowledging the past. It seems Grant Morrison did this well. Kupperberg before him didn't create a team of a unique enough conceit, acting far more like an X-Men knockoff and therefore rather bland (though I did learn of the Suicide Squad through that run). Pollack took things in a direction story-wise that I liked, but things got a little muddled in the characters who made up the team.

An ideal Doom Patrol for me would include (in a very Morrison-like fashion): Robotman (for without him, it's not the Doom Patrol) Rebis Dorothy Spinner The Chief (of course—you need the leader) Danny the Street (as the headquarters, of course)

But there could be another team made up of former Doom Patrollers who may not really fit in with the Patrol: Coagula (she was too normal for the Patrol, but a solid character) Elastigirl (again, too normal, but would give a good tie to such a team to have contact with the Patrol) The Bandage People (the Patrol above already has a bandaged member, and the Bandage People just fit in too darn well into their own community, negating the "outsider" aspect—still characters I like, though, and their home could be the base of operations) Tempest (as the leader and mentor figure) and maybe another from one of the runs I never read

About the characters I didn't include: Lodestone - her story was told by Morrison and, while still open for her to come back or the like, she doesn't work as a team character anymore, instead as a cosmic force

Karma - really not a Patroller at all. He wasn't much of a hero or character.

Blaze - there's a possibility to do him well, but in the end, he suffers the fate of any Kupperberg-only character in being too bland

Negative Woman - she could be brought back as her unpowered self, which would make an interesting aspect, though people might feel it mirrors Larry's presence in the Kupperberg issues. Still, too redundant and not as interesting a character as Negative Man/Rebis

Arani - maybe Blackest Night helped explain it (since I know she was one of the Black Lanterns), but I do feel she has more story to be told, to tell what the heck her backstory really is. Still, she never works as a member of the team, considering the role of "mannipulative leader" that she filled is done so much better with the Chief

Crazy Jane - her story has been told, and any further ones with her would feel wrong. Besides, her character is too much of a Deus ex Machina, considering her different personalities weren't incredibly defined and she could easily have a new one come to the fore with the right power for the situation—every time

Flex Mentallo - "muscle mystery" was too loosely defined (and I haven't read his miniseries, so I don't know whether it was defined there), making him as easy to make overpowered as it is Crazy Jane

Inner Child - though entertainingly creepy, he worked best when we didn't know much about him. His true nature brings up too much controversy about theology. And, like Lodestone and Crazy Jane above, his story has been told

Identity Addict - very much like Crazy Jane and far too much of a carbon copy. Unlike Crazy Jane, we also don't get a stated limit to the transformations he can have, which can keep ramping up his power

Tieresias - included for completion, really—by the character's very nature, this one wouldn't really be on the team and would rejoin the Tieresiae before actually joining

And I make long posts sometimes. I'm sorry about that, especially for a first post, but I wanted to get my bit there so others could process and respond.

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